Astros report: Zinter hired as assistant hitting coach

Former Astros player Alan Zinter will serve as the team's assistant hitting coach, general manager Jeff Luhnow said Tuesday. Zinter will work under Dave Hudgens, who is entering his first year in the organization.

Ralph Dickenson, the assistant hitting coach last season, will remain with the Astros as a roving hitting instructor. Zinter's job, was the last unfilled big league coaching position the Astros had.

Zinter, a 46-year-old El Paso native, served as the Cleveland Indians' hitting coordinator for the 2012-14 seasons.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch hired Zinter in 2008 to be a hitting coach in the Diamondbacks' system at rookie-level Missoula in Montana.

He brings a lot of passion to our staff and will work tirelessly for the hitters," Hinch said. "He and Hudge will be a good combo for our offense."

Zinter, a first-round pick of the Mets in 1989, played 67 games in the big leagues, including 39 with the Astros in 2002, his first year in the majors.

Altuve, McHughnot AL finalists

Despite deserving strong consideration, second baseman Jose Altuve and righthander Collin McHugh did not emerge Tuesday as finalists for major American League awards.

Altuve, who led the majors with a .341 batting average and was among three finalists for the Players Choice honor as the AL's outstanding player (won by Angels outfielder Mike Trout), couldn't beat out Trout, the Tigers' Victor Martinez and the Indians' Michael Brantley as a finalist for the AL Most Valuable Player Award.

McHugh, who was 11-9 with a 2.73 ERA, faced stiff competition for AL Rookie of the Year. White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker and Yankees reliever Dellin Betances are the finalists there.

Not that McHugh, 27, expected to win the award. Asked in September if he was thinking about it, he replied: "Have you seen Jose Abreu hit?"

The Rookie of the Year, MVP, Cy Young and Manager of the Year awards are voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The BBWAA award winners will be announced next week, starting with the rookie awards on Monday.

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